Horology



March 24, 1925. 1,531,217

F. PIATTY HOROLOGY Filed Sept. 27, 1924 atto'cmq Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES FRANK PIATTY, OF LEMONT. PENNSYLVANIA.

HOROLOGY.

Application filed September 27, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK PIATTY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Lemont, county of Fayette, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I-Iorology; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in horology, having for an object to provide a water operated clock wherein an indicator is controlled by the discharge of water from the casing for the same to such a nicety as to permit of' its accurate indicating of time. 7

It is likewise an object of the invention to provide a clock of the character mentioned which, by reason of its simplicity of construction, may be advantageously marketed and sold as a novelty, the operation thereof being dependable and accurate due to the elimination of any intricacy of construction or adjustment of the several parts.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawings, and in the detailed following description based thereupon, set out one possible embodiment of the same.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section through the improved clock having a portion of the lower end of the indicator broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a detail in elevation of the time indicator; and,

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the device.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the improved device may be stated to comprise a combined supporting base and receptacle 1, herein shown as being circular in its cross sectional shape, said receptacle being water-tight, and having a spout or lip 2 secured to one side of the same, as

Serial No. 740,345.

shown in the Figure 1, and communicating with an opening 3 in an adjacent portion of the receptacle wall, whereby passage of fluid from the spout into the receptacle, or vice-versa, may be effected, as oesired.

The upper end of the combined supporting base and receptacle 1 is opened and is adapted to be normally closed by means of a corresponding shaped cover i flanged, as indicated at 5, whereby to snugly and frictionally engage adjacent portions of the outer sides of the receptacle walls.

Rigidly supported upon the upper side and concentric portion of the cover 4 is a water-tight tube 6, the open lower end there ofbeing closed by reason of said cover 1, while the upper end thereof is adapted to be i normally closed through the medium of afianged cap 7 shaped in cross section to correspond to the cross sectional shape of said tube 6 and adapted to be snugly engaged over the same as indicated in the Figure 1. This cap 7 is provided with a concentrically arranged squared opening 8, the purpose of which will be presently apparent.

A valve controlled discharge spout or spigot 9 is tapped into the lower end of the tube 6 and as will be noted upon reference to the drawings, is adapted to be arranged in vertical alignment wit-h the spout 2; the valve of the spout or spigot being provided with a suitable form of handle 10 whereby to facilitate the desired adjustment of the same.

Passing through the squared opening 8 in the cap 7 into the tube 6 is an elongated time indicating bar 11, which as will be noted, is substantially square in cross sec tion, and is snugly received in said opening 8 whereby to prevent material lateral movement of the same with respect to the cap 7 or to the upper portion of the tube 6. Markings 12, indicating the various hours of a day are inscribed upon the various faces of the indicating bar 11 and as will be noted, the spaces between these numerals are divided into sections indicative of portions of an hour. If desired, the spaces between the various hour-indicating numerals 12 may be increased in order that a greater division of the hours may be made than that shown herein. In other words, if desired, the spaces between the hour-indicating numerals 12 may be divided into minutes, or certain groups of minutes other cured to the lower and adjacent end of the time indicating bar 11 through the medium.

of a suitable fastening device 15. In this way, it will be understood that with the placing of liquid 16 in the tube 6, the float 14 will buoyantly support the time indicating bar 11 thereupon.

The modusoperandi of the. improved clock may be stated to= be as follows The liquid is placed. in the tube 6 to a height at which the lowermost numeral 12 upon the time indicating bar 11- will be exposed abovethe cap 7. the division line at the bottom thereof coinciding with the up per surfaceof the cap 7 thus indicating, for example, twelve oclock midday. Thehandie 10 of the valved spigot 9 is now adjusted/co permit the flow of the liquid from the tube 6 into the receptacle 1 by way of the spout 2 and opening; The discharge of. liquid from the tube 6 is regulated to.

such anicety that the float lat carrying the time indicating bar 11 will descend within the tube 6 in accurate keeping and register with. the passing of time. Thus. as the time indicating bar 11 descends in the tube.

6, with the continued discharge of liquid therefrom into the receptacle 1, the time of day may b readily ascertained by viewing the uppermost exposed graduation and hour indicating numeral upon the time indicating bar 11. When the liquid 16 has been exhausted from the tube 6, the float 14 will be in its lowermost position within said tube 6' while the upper hour-indicating numeral 12 will be exposed, thus indicating midnight. To repeat the operation, it is only necessary that the closure a be removed from the combined supporting base and receptacle l whereupon the cap 7 of said tube 6 is removed and the liquid inthe receptacle 1 is returned into=the tube 6. Thereceptacle 1 isnow reengaged by the closure. 4 and the spigot 9 is aligned with the spout or lip 2;

whereupon adjustment of the valve of said spigotthroughthe medium of its. handle 10 is effected; to again repeat-the discharge of liquid from the tube 6 at the proper rate to accurately indicate time.

Manifestly, theconstruction shown is ca pable of considerable modification, and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, Iconsider within the spirit of closure, a floatsnugly received and slid-able within said; tube, a time indicating bar car ried on the upper side of-sa-1dfloat, a closure cap havingan opening therein. engaged overthe upper end of said? tube and receiving the time indicating bar-through said opening therein, and means for effecting. and controlling the discharge offluid from said tube into: the spout ofthe combined: support ing base and receptacle.

2-.- A device of the character described comprising a combined supporting: baseand receptacle having a spout communicating with the same, a closure for the open portion of said receptacle snugly engageable over the same, a vertically disposed tube rigidly supported upon the upper and concentric portion of said closure, a float snugly and slidably received w thin: said tube, a'

time indicating bar, square in cross section, secured at its lower end tosaid float, the various sides of said bar hav ng hour indicating matter presented thereupon, a closurefor the upper end of said tube havingan opening therein snugly receiving the adjacent. portion of said time indicating bar therethrough whereby to permit of vertical movement ofsaid bar with. respect to the tube but to prevent material lateral movement thereof with respect to such tube, and r a valved spigot tapped into the lower end of said tube and adapted to vertically align with said spoutv as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto se my hand.

' FRANK PI'ATTY'. 

